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“Do you want to talk about it? I might understand a little better than most.” Her voice was soft, and it made my heart ache and swell all at the same time. Her hand rested gently on my chest, her fingers grazing the same spot they’ve done every night since we started whatever was happening between us.
“She said I brought her home after a night at a bar. If I did, I have no memory of it.”
“Sounds like you and I keep having more and more things in common.” She laughed and I looked down at her. “Oh, come on Kipp, if you can’t laugh you’re going to cry, trust me on that one. So take it for what it is. You have a chance to be the world for that little boy, no matter how he ended up here, he needs someone to love him unconditionally.” She moved her arm and wrapped it around my chest.
“This changes nothing.”
“It changes everything,” she replied. “But for tonight, I just want it to be us. We can deal with all this tomorrow. Just be here with me right now.” There was dampness on my shirt and I realized it was from the silent tears that fell from Nora’s eyes.
“I can do that.” I kissed her head. She made no attempt to move, so I just stayed there, holding her. We were taking a page out of Scarlett O’Hara’s play book and thinking about it tomorrow. Part of me wished I was taking Rhett’s stance and not giving a damn, but that wasn’t me.
Tomorrow might be another day, but my problems from today were still going to be there, in the form of a vindictive redhead and her little boy that looked a lot like me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
NORA
My sleep had been fitful, but waking up in Kipp’s arms this morning, for a moment, allowed me to forget everything and just relax. We hadn’t moved from the chair and I had to gently sneak out of his grasp. It was time for me to start my day, and that’s when everything came flooding back. Bella, Nathan, the hurt in Cooper's eyes when he realized things here were going to change drastically. Him hugging Kipp, breaking my heart just a little more. It wasn’t fair. I’d fallen in love and so had my son. Why couldn’t life just be easy for us one time? Didn’t we deserve to be happy too?
I pushed the door open and walked outside. I didn’t know what I was doing or where I was going but I walked a ways out into the pasture and just screamed. Birds flew from the trees, and wild animals that had bedded down in the tall grass scampered away. I screamed to let go of the life I’d dreamed of. For the life I wanted my son to have and the life I’d lost five years ago.
“You done?” His voice was warm, and caring. I hadn’t heard him walk up behind me but there he was. He’d followed me. Turning, tears rolled down my face and he gathered me up in his powerful arms. “Nora, don’t leave me. I can’t bear the thought of life without you and Cooper. We’ll figure this out together.” He made me believe that we’d be able to, and in that moment I felt like we could take on the world.
Wrapping my arms around him, my tears stopped and I peered up at him. “I’m done.” I smiled weakly and we turned to walk back into the house. Kipp’s arm was around my shoulders, and mine was around his waist. At night, in my dreams, this is what I saw, but I also saw large black ravens sitting on the peak of the roof, staring with their beady eyes, waiting to peck at things when they died.
The smell of coffee wafted through the house and I saw Linc sitting at the table. He looked from Kipp to me. “Everything okay out there?” He frowned.
“Yeah, sorry, I just needed to let off a little steam.” I smiled and walked over to get the mugs down. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Linc eye Kipp and arch his eyebrow, silently questioning what had gone on. Kipp shook his head and it was over, there weren’t any more questions, the subject was dropped.
“You have to go to Texas tomorrow. I need you to look at that ranch around Wichita Falls.” I froze mid pour and waited for Linc to say more. “Things need to get finalized and you are better at seeing the work that needs to be done. I’ll stay here and make sure things are running smoothly.” Silence hung in the air and I turned and took coffee to the guys. The Texas deal had been something they’d kept quiet, never talking about it when I was around, which I didn’t mind. It really was none of my business, but they were getting a little too close to home for me.
“Yeah, I can go. I don’t know if I really like leaving with everything going on.”
“Business can’t stop. Bella will be here when you get back.” Linc sounded heartless but he was right, no matter what was happening, business continued and cattle still needed to be fed. I could hear my father saying, Darlin’, when I die, I’ll probably still have to feed these damn cows. He’d laugh and shake his head as he walked out the door every morning. That’s who he was, and that’s who these men were. The ache for home was growing like it never had before.
My day was busy, and that was my own doing. The busier I was, the less time I had to think. But everything came to a halt when there was a knock at the door. Stomach churning and my hands shaking, I went to see who was here. Opening the door, Bella pushed her way in with her son trailing behind. Had I not been there to catch the door it would have hit him. He looked up at me with big eyes that reminded me so much of Kipp. “Hi Nathan, welcome to the ranch.”
“Oh, don’t stand there like you’re the mistress of this place. I will have you run out of here by next week,” Bella seethed quietly as she turned back toward me.
“We’ll see about that.” A strong voice spoke from behind us all. My heart relaxed and I couldn’t help the smirk that crossed my face. Turning, I looked into the irate face of Julie staring holes in Bella’s head. “Nora dear, please go get Kipp. I’ll get Bella settled in.” She turned and smiled at me.
“Yes ma’am.” I headed out the door. He’d mentioned he was staying close to the house today, so I started in the barn.
Kipp was sitting in the tack room on a bale, fixing a bridle. “Do you need to finish that? I can come back.” If I didn’t tell him Bella was here, I could keep this dream world intact for a bit longer.
“No, you aren’t interrupting anything. Why don’t you come sit with me.” His voice was low, almost a husky whisper and I couldn’t stop the tingling feeling happening that I’d only just stopped. My head was saying we needed to go back to the house but I found myself walking toward where he was sitting. The hay crunched under me as I got comfortable on the blanket beside Kipp. Looking at him, I suddenly realized I craved his touch.
His face was only inches from mine. I stared at his lips, they were flawless, with a perfect blush I was sure was the color of my heated cheeks. They’d been pressed up against mine this morning, and I wanted them back. Absent-mindedly, I licked my lips before looking back up into his dark brown eyes. As if I had telepathically communicated with him, Kipp lowered his head and pressed those perfect lips against mine.
He quickly stood and walked over to the door and closed it. The lock sliding across reverberated in the room. Kipp pulled me up and undid all the buttons down the front of my dress. Slowly, he moved the fabric to reveal my unflattering, beige, sweat stained bra that I had been wearing all day. “God, your body is beautiful. It’s been so difficult to concentrate on work when I know you’re just in the house.” He’d been quiet this morning and distant, but I couldn’t blame him for that.
The light almost tickling tingles of the tips of his fingers gliding down my chest, between my breasts sent signals to the place between my legs I was longing for his touch. I didn’t have to wait long before he slid down my abdomen to where my panties were. He grabbed each side of my underwear. Before I knew it they were around my ankles and I kicked them off, not caring where they went.
Reaching behind me, he undid my bra and slid it down my arms. My round tits fit perfectly in his hands. It was like they were made for him to hold. Kipp slipped his hand between my legs. I was soaking for him and now he was covered in it. “Lay back down.” He growled in my ear. I laid back on the blanket, and he spread my legs. His fingers danced over my clit. “Please,” I begged and he stopped.
“All in good time, baby.” He slipped a finger in me and then another one until he replaced them with his shaft in one stroke. It was cruel, barbaric even, but God it felt good. He was usually gentle, but today I didn’t want that. I needed to forget everything but him and I.
“Please Kipp, I want more, I need more.” I opened my eyes and hoped he understood what I meant.
